Attachment for stapling machines



Oct. 13, 1942. J. T. DALTON ATTACHMENT FOR STAPLING IM'CHHXES lFiledJan. 14, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet l www.

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ATTORNEY Oct; 13, 1942. .1. T. DALTON ATTACHMENT FOR STAPLING MACHINESFiled Jan. 14, 194i 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR 7770:: alwz 5 Sheets-Sheet3 J. T. DAI-TON Filed Ja'. 14, 1941 Oct. 13, 1942.l

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4 J. T. DALTQN ATTACHMENT FOR STAPLING MACHINES Oct. 13, 1942.

Filedl Jan. 14, 1941 5 sheets-sheer 4 J. T. DALTON K 2,298,684

ATTACHMENT FOR STAPLING MACHINES ocr. A 13, 1942.

Filed Jan '14, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR y ATTORNEY5 Patented Oct.13 1942 ATTACHMENT FOR STAPLING MACHINES John Thomas Dalton, Durham, N.C., assigner to The American Tobacco Company, New York, N. Y., acorporation of New Jersey Application January 14, 1941, Serial No.374,326

22 Claims.

This invention relates to attachments for wire stitchers or staplingmachines and more particularly to an apparatus for securing a tag to oneof the strings of a bag of the string closure type.

In my prior Patents Nos. 2,207,912, 2,207,913

and 2,207,914, granted July 16, 1940, I have disclosed and claimedseveral types of apparatus for securing a tag to the string of a bag ofthe string closure type. In these machines the tags are secured to thebag string before filling the bag and VI provide means for feeding a tagto the anvil of the wire stitcher prior to each descent of the stitcherhead, means for feeding a bag to the anvil and means for collecting thebags after the tags are secured to the strings.

In my copending application, Serial No. 339,960, led June 11, 1940, Ihave ldisclosed and claimed an apparatus in which a tag is secured toone of the bag strings after the bag has been Iilled. This apparatuscomprises tag feeding means generally similar to that disclosed in myprior patents whereby a tag is fed to the anvil prior to each descent ofthe stitcher head and is stitched to the bag string when the stitcherhead descends.

The apparatus of the present application is an improvement over thatdisclosed in my cepending application. As in the earlier forms of mymachine, the present apparatus comprises a pair of reciprocating membersto deliver the individual tags to the anvil. The present machine alsoincludes an oscillating and reciprocating hook by means of which thestring of a bag is `carried over the anvil. The present machine isdesigned to apply the tags to the bag strings after the bags have beenfilled and is preferably assembled with a tobacco filling machine at theoutlet end `of the tobacco nlling machine so that the bag,

after filling and after application of the revenue stamp and labels, isfed directly to the stitcher head for the application of the tag to thebag string. The present invention is an improvement over the apparatusdisclosed in my cepending application in that I have simplified theconstruction of the machine and particularly theV means for actuatingthe pair of reciprocating members which feed the tags to the anvil andthe reciprocating and oscillating hook which carries the bag string overthe anvil.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown one embodiment of theinvention. In this showing:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the machine;

Fig. 2 is an end view from the left in Fig. 1 showing the drive means;

Fig. 3 is an end View from the opposite end of the machine showing thestitcher head;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal, sectional view substantially on line 4--4 ofFig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal, sectional view substantially in the same planeas Fig. 4 showing certain of the parts on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 6 is a vertical, sectional View on line 6 6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged, detailed, sectional view of the spider whichforms a part of the means for feeding the tags to the anvil;

Fig. 8 is a front elevation of one of thepairs f of tag gripping jaws ofthe spider shown in Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the mechanism by which the tags are fedfrom a tube to the spider;

Fig. 10 is a plan View of one of the gripping jaws of the tag feedingmechanism shown in Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a plan view'of the end of a reciprocating member to which thejaw shown in Fig. 10 is secured;

Fig. 12 is an end elevation of the gripping jaw shown in Fig. 10;

Fig. 13 is a plan View of the other gripping jaw;

Fig. 14 is an enlarged elevation of the gripping mechanism shown in Fig.9, the jaws being shown in closed position in Fig. 14 and in openposition in Fig. 9;

.Fig. 15 is a detailed, sectional view substantially on line I5--l5 ofFig. 5 showing a portion of the mechanism for guiding the string to theanvil;

Fig. 16 is a similar View on line llii6 of Fig. 5

' showing a string tensioning device;

Fig. 17 is a side elevation of the lower end of the tag tube;

Fig. 18 is a front elevation thereof;

Fig. 19 is a detailed view showing the lower end of the tube in section,and showing a surrounding collar in elevation, the sections of the tubeand collar being taken in separate planes;

Fig. 20 is a rear elevation of the lower end of the tag tube;

Fig. 21 is an enlarged View of a tag showing the string stitchedthereto;

Fig. 22 is a vertical, sectional view on line 22 of Fig. 19 looking inthe direction of the arrows; and

Fig. 23 is a similar view on line 23-23 looking in the direction of thearrows.

The frame of the machine, which may be in a singlev casting, comprises abase or bed plate 2,

end walls 4 and 6, and a rear wall 8. The end wall E terminates abovethe base as at I9 tovpermit certain of the movable parts to extendbeyond this end Wall.

A main shaft I2 is mounted in suitable bearings in the end walls 4 and 6and this shaft carries a drive sprocket I4 which is loosely mounted onthe shaft and is adapted to receive a drive chain I6 (see Fig. 2) bymeans of which the apparatus is driven from any suitable source ofpower, such as a shaft of the tobacco filling machine With which it isadapted to be used. A drive gear I8 is mounted on shaft I2 adjacent thesprocket I4 and the sprocket I4 and the gear I8 are provided withopenings which may be aligned for the reception of a pin 28 to lock thesprocket to the shaft and drive the machine. In normal operation the pin20 is retained in locked position by means of a spring 22 carried on thehub 24 of gear |8. Shaft I2 is provided with a hand Wheel 26 so that byremoving the pin 28 from the opening in the sprocket I4, the machine maybe disconnected from its source of power and driven by hand.

A cam shaft 28 is arranged above the main shaft I2 and is also mountedin suitable bearings in the end plates 4 and 8. This shaft is providedwith a gear 38 (see Figs. 1 and 2) which meshes with the gear I8 todrive the cam shaft from the main shaft. This shaft is provided Withcams 32 and 34 by means of which the pair of reciprocating members areactuated to feed individual tags from the tube to the spider. The shaftis further provided with a pair of cams 36 and 38 which actuate thereciprocating and oscillating hook by means of which the bag string isguided over a tag on the anvil.

A shaft 40 is mounted in suitable bearing carried by brackets 42 beneaththe bed plate of the machine and this shaft is driven from the mainshaft I2 by a Geneva movement to impart a step by step motion to thespider which delivers the tags to the anvil of the wire stitcher. Asshown in Fig. 2 a gear 44 is carried by a stub shaft 46 mounted in theend plate 4 and this gear meshes with a, gear 48 on the drive shaft.Gear 44 also meshes with a gear 50 which is carried by another stubshaft 52 mounted in the end plate and which forms one element of theGeneva movement. Gear 50 is provided with a pin 54 which is adapted tobe received successively in radial slots 56 of Wheel 58 which is mountedon the shaft 40 and thereby impart a step by step movement to the shaft40.

A stitching machine is shown in Figs. l and 3 of the drawings and is aconventional Wire stitcher 60 which is supported from the end plate 6 onits outer side. A bracket 62 is mounted on the stitching machine andsupports a reel 84 of wire. The wire is fed to the stitching machinefrom the reel as indicated at 66. The stitching machine includes astitcher head 68 which periodically moves downwardly toward the anvil'I8 -(see Figs. 1 and 6) to form a wire stitch in the usual manner. Camshaft 28 extends through the end plate 8 of the machine and is connectedto the shaft of the stitching machine to drive the stitching machine.

Tag feeding means The means whereby the tags are individually fed to theanvil 'I0 is shown in detail in Figs. 4, 5 and '7 to 14, inclusive. Thetags are arranged in stacked relation in a tube 80 which is positionedadjacent the end plate 6. The detailed construction of the tag tube isshown in Figs. 1'7 to 20 and will be later` described. Tags are adaptedto be taken from the lower end of the tube by a pair of gripping fingers82 (see Fig. 10) and 84 (see Fig. l2). These gripping fingers arecarried by a reciprocating member 86 (see Figs. 9 and 14) whichreciprocates in a suitable guideway 88 and cooperates with a secondreciprocating member 98. These reciprocating members are actuated bycams 32 and 34. As shown, the cams are provided with grooves 92 and 94adapted to receive rollers 9S and 98 carried by levers and |82. Theupper edge of the rear plate 8 of the frame of the machine is providedwith a pair of slots or recesses |84 and |86. Plates |08 and Il@ aresecured to the rear plate 8 adjacent these slots. As shown the plates|08 and I I8 are provided with elongated slots ||2 for the reception ofbolts passing through openings in the rear plate 8. The plates |88 and||0 are further provided with extensions I4 and IIB arranged over theslots |04 and |88 and levers |80 and |02 are pivotally mounted on boltsor pins ||8 carried by these extensions. As shown the levers areprovided with elongated slots |20. It will be apparent that theelongated slots ||2 in the plates |88 and H8 and the elongated slots |20in the levers |88 and |02 permit any desired adjustment of the throw ofthese levers. The lower end of lever |80 is connected to thereciprocating member 88 by a link |30 and the lower end of the lever 82is similarly connected to the reciprocating member 88 by a link |32 (seeFig. 4).

The reciprocating members 86 and 98 are adapted to be moved from aposition adjacent the lower end of tube 80 to a position adjacent thespider |34 (see Figs. 4. 5 and 7) to deliver a tag from the tube to apair of jaws on one of the arms of the spider. In Fig. 4 thereciprocating members are shown at the outer end of the stroke. In Fig.5, the full line position is at an intermediate point in the stroke andthe position of the tag at each end of the stroke is shown in dottedlines. Gripping fingers 82 and 84 are adapted to be opened just prior tothe inner end of the stroke to receive a tag from the bottom of the tubeand at the outer end of the stroke after the tag has been gripped by thegripping iingers of the spider |34. The lower nger 84 is stationary andis mounted on the reciprocating member 85 by bolts or rivets which passthrough the openings |36 in the finger. As shown the finger issubstantially L-shaped and the gripping portion |38 is oiset from thereciprocating member 86.

The end of the reciprocating member 86 is provided with a pair ofsleeve-like members |40 separated from each other by a slot |42 (seeFig. ll). The linger 82 is carried by a similar sleevelike body portion|43 having slots or cut-out portions |44 and the two parts are adaptedto be assembled with the sleeve-like portions of one member received inthe slots of the other member. These sleeve-like portions are providedwith registering openings to receive a pivot pin |46. An arm (see Fig.14) is arranged on the body portion of finger 82 to cooperate with a camcarried by the reciprocating member 90 to open the gripping iingers atthe inner end of the stroke and a similar arm |50 is carried by the nger82 and projects in the opposite direction to cooperate with a second camcarried by the reciproeating member 98 to open the gripping ngers at theforward end of the stroke. The fingers are normally retained in closedposition by a coil spring |52 (see Fig. 14) which is arranged in a bore|54 of the reciprocating member 86 and which forces a pin |58 into adepression |60 in the adjacent portion of the finger 82. Finger 84 isprovided with a recess |62 in its face and finger 82 is provided with arib or extension |64 which cooperates therewith to insure a rm grip onthe tag.

As stated, the cams for opening the gripping fingers are carried by thereciprocating member 90. One of these cams |66 is formed on a plate |68on the top of the reciprocating member 90 (see Figs. and 9) and isadapted to cooperate with a downwardly extending end of the arm |48. Themovement of the reciprocating members 86 and 90 is such that on therearward stroke, movement of the reciprocating member 90 is arrestedprior to movement of the reciprocating member 86 and arm |48 then ridesupon the cam |66 to open the gripping ngers and engage a tag which hasbeen projected from the bottom of the tube to the position C (Fig. 5).

A second cam is carried by the reciprocating member 90 and arm |50 isadapted to pass under this cam to swing the gripping fingers to an openposition. As shown a plate |80 is arranged adjacent the outer end of thereciprocating member 90 (see Figs. 5 and 9) and this plate is providedwith a cam surface |82 on its lower face. The arm |50 is provided withan upwardly extending portion |84 on its outer end which engages the camsurface |82, as shown in Fig. 9 of the drawings, to open the grippingngers at the outer end of the stroke in position D (Fig. 5)

At the outer end of the stroke of the reciprocating members 86 and 90the tag carried by the gripping fingers 82 and 84 is delivered to one 0fthe arms of spider |34. This spider is driven with a step by step motioncoordinated with the operation of the stitcher head by the shaft 40. Asshown (see Fig. 7) the spider is mounted upon a shaft 200 supported in asuitable bearing 202 in the base of the machine and is provided with aspiral gear 204 on its lower end. Gear 204 meshes with a spiral gear 206on shaft 40. The spider consists of a plurality of arms 2|0 which formthe upper and stationary members of the gripping jaws which receive thetags from the gripping members 82 and. 84. Each arm is provided with apair of spaced downwardly extending portions 2|2 and a pivoted grippingmember 2 |4 is mounted on a p-ivot pin 2 6 carried by these downwardlyextending portions. The gripping members are normally retained in closedposition by means of springs 2|8 which are received in recesses in theupper and lower gripping members.

The jaws or gripping members 2|0 and 2 |4 are opened at certainpositions in the cycle of operation to receive a tag from the tagfeeding mechanism and to release the tag after it has been stitched tothe string of a bag. For this purpose I provide a cam 220 which ismounted on the shaft 200 preferably surrounding the hub 222 of thespider. The cam is provided with a high portion 224 throughoutsubstantially half of its circumference and is adapted to be oscillatedto open the gripping fingers just before they leave the position A inFig. 4 of the drawings after the tag has been stitched to the bag stringand to close them just before they leave the position B after they havereceived another tag. Cam 220 is provided with an arm 230 and asecond'arm 232 is secured thereto in the path of the reciprocatingmember 86. At the outer end of the stroke of reciprocating member 86,ears |40 engage the arm 232 to move the arm 230 and the cam in acounterclockwise direction. The cam is returned to its normal positionby means of a spring 234 which is secured to the outer end of the arm230 and to a pin 236 mounted on the frame of the machine.

As shown in Fig. 8 of the drawings, the upper gripping members 2|0 ofthe spider are each provided with a depression or recess 238 and thelower gripping members are each provided with an extension or projection240 registering with these recesses to assure a rm grip on the tag.

Tag delivery tube Referring to Figs. 1'1 to 20, 22 and 23 of thedrawings, the tags are stacked in tube 80, which is of an internaldiameter substantially equal to the size of the tags and which ismounted on the machine in the position shown in Figs. l, 4 and 5. Thetube is supported by a pair of brackets 250 and 252 (see Fig. 1) carriedby the end plate 6. The lower end of the tube is open at the frontthroughout substantially one-half of its diameter as shown at 254 (seeFig. 19) to permit the delivery of a tag. Adjacent the lower end thetube is surrounded by a collar 256. and the lower bracket 252 areprovided with aligned openings for the reception of a rod 258. The lowerend of this rod is offset into the open end of the tube and the face 260of the offset portion is in line with the inside of the tube wall toengage the tags T at their circumferential edges. This rod is verticallypositioned to engage the next to the bottom tag in the tube. Rod 258 issurrounded by a member 259 secured thereto by a set screw 26|. ranged ina recess in bracket 252, and surrounds rod 258. The lower end of thisspring rests on member 259 to hold the rod in proper position. Tagengagingface 260 may be properly adjusted by set screw 26|. The lowerend of the front of the tube is provided with an opening 254 (see Fig.19). The lower end of the back of the tube is provided with an opening264 (see Figs. 19 and 20). An arm or projection 262 extends into thebottom of the tube at the back adjacent the opening 264. It is carriedby a rod 210, the upper portion of which is clamped between the tube andthe collar 256. The lower end of the collar is cut away at the rear asat 269 (see Figs. 20 and 23). The collar is also provided with anopening 21| at the front (see Fig. 18).. At one side (see Fig. 22) thewall of the collar extends downwardly and is provided with an inclinedlower edge 213. An arm or projection 261 extends from this side of thecollar under the bottom of the tube to form a support for the tags (seeFig. 19). A similar arm or projection 265 extends from the other sidewall of the bottom of the collar beneath the opening 21| (see Fig. 19).The arms or projections 262, 265 and 261 form supports for the column oftags arranged within the tube. Opening 21| in the front of the collar isof less diameter than the tags and is therefore not large enough topermit the delivery of a tag. Adjacent the arm or projection 265 the lwall of the collar is slotted as at 215 (see Fig. 18) to provideanopening large enough for the delivery of a tag.

Means are provided for projecting the bottom tag in the tube partiallyfrom the tube to the position C shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings topermit it to be grasped by the gripping members 82 and 84. As shown (seeFig. 5) a reciprocating member 280 is mounted in a suitable guide orframe 282 on the frame of the machine. This This collar,

reciprocating member is of a proper size to enter the slots 253 and 239and is bifurcated as at 283 to permit it to span the tag supporting arm262. Adjacent its end it is decreased in thickness (see Fig. 5) formingshoulders 236 and when it reciprocates into the tube, the end portions288 pass under the lower tag so that the tab is engaged by the shoulders286 to move it outwardly to the position C. The reciprocating member 280is actuated from the reciprocating member 83. As shown a link 296 isconnected to the rear end of reciprocating member 283 by a pin 292, thepin being mounted on the reciprocating member 28!) and being received inan elongated slot 234 in the link. The opposite end of the link 293carries a pin 236 and this pinrprojects downwardly between a pair ofarms 233 and 333 arranged on opposite ends of a plate 392 carried by thereciproeating member 36. As the reciprocating member 33 moves rearwardlyor toward the tube, the arrn 238 engages the pin 296 to swing the linkin a clockwise direction and move the reciprocating member 233 into thebottom of the tube to project a tag to the position C. As thereciprocating member 85 moves forwardly, the arm 333 swings the link inthe opposite direction to withdraw the reciprocating member 23E] fromthe bottom of the tube and permit the next tag to move down in positionto be fed from the tube. To insure rearward movement of thereciprocating member 28E) a spring 334 is mounted on a rod 333 which iscarried by the reciprocating member and which passes through an opening338 in an arm or bracket carried by the guide 282. When thereciprocating member moves forwardly the spring is thus placed undertension.

To permit operation of the machine without delivering tags I providemeans whereby the tags may be supported in a position above the bottomof the tube. A rod 320 is mounted in the rear of the tube and extendsupwardly through openings in the brackets 253 and 252, the rod beingprovided with aA handle 322 on its upper end to permit it to be lifted.As shown, this rod is arranged in alignment with the tag supporting arm252 so that the bifurcated end 283 of the reciprocating member 28E! maystraddle it. The lower end of this arm carries a plate 324 which extendsunder the tube and is provided with upwardly extending arms 328 whichengage the bottom tag of the stack adjacent the arm 262. By lifting thehandle 322 the entire assembly may be moved upwardly to bring the bottomtag out of the plane of the reciprocating member 28E] and thus preventdelivery of a tag from the tube.

Bag feeding means A stated, the stitching machine is preferably used inconjunction with a standard tobacco lling machine and is arrangedadjacent the outlet of the tobacco filling machine so that the filledbags to which the labels and revenue stamps have been applied aredelivered to the stitching machine. The bags are delivered to a platform353 which extends across the front of the machine adjacent the anvil ofthe stitcher and which may be provided with an inclined portion 352adjacent the anvil (see Fig. 3). The platform is of a widthsubstantially equal to the length or height of a bag R and is providedwith a vertical wall or flange 354 at each side throughout the greaterportion of its length. The bags are fed to the platform with the stringsS depending from the side adjacent the anvil (see Figs. 3 and 6) and arefed along this platform by means of a suitable pushing device (notshown) which forms a part of the discharge mechanism of the tobaccolling machine and pushes the bags along the platform toward the anvil.Adjacent the anvil the platform is provided with a horizontal portion356 and as the bags are pushed from the end of this horizontal portionthey may fall upon a downwardly inclined platform 358 over which theyare fed to a suitable receptacle. Adjacent the anvil the flange 353 iseliminated on the side of the platform toward the anvil providing anopening as indicated at 36B (see Figs. 4 and 5). Beyond the opening 3550the flange is ilattened as at 33| for a slight distance. Means areprovided for engaging the bag that is positioned in front of the anviland to which a tag is being applied to hold it in position during thestitching operation. As shown an arm 332 is secured to a post 363adjacent the stitcher head and is provided with an offset portion 363 toposition the end of the arm transversely over the platform 350. As shownin Fig. 3 of the drawings the end of the arm 362 is positioned over thehorizontal portion of the platform and spaced from it a distancesubstantially equal to the thickness of a bag.

A reciprocating and oscillating hook is adapted to engage one of thestrings S of the bag and deliver it to a position over the anvil for thestitching operation. lThe hook 336 (see Fig. 5) is pivotally mountedupon the end of a reciprocating member 368. This reciprocating membercooperates with a second reciprocaitng member Sli), the membersreciprocating in a suitable guide or frame 332 on the frame of themachine. Pins Sfl and 373 are carried by these members adjacent theirrear ends and these pins receive the ends of levers 378 and 333respectively. Levers SiS and 38! are provided with rollers 382 and 384respectively which ride in cam grooves 386 and 388 formed in cams 355and 33 respectively. These levers are pivoted to the back wall of themachine in a manner similar to the levers |33 and m2. As shown, eachlever is provided with an elongated slot 38'! for the reception of apivot 389 and the pivot pins are carrier in plates 390 which are securedto the rear wall 8 by suitable bolts 392 or other fastening means. Theplates are provided with elongated slots 335i to permit adjustment andthe rear wall 8 is provided with slots 336 adjacent the points where thelevers Y 333 and 383 are pivoted.

To impart a reciprocating and oscillating motion to the hook by thereciprocation of the members 338 and 33t, I provide an arm 333 adjacentthe end of the reciprocating member 368 and a substantially L-shapedlever 432 is pivoted on this arm by a pivot pin 334. The hook 353 issecured to this L-shaped member. rThe reciprocating member 3TH) isprovided with a slot t6 which receives a pin 433 carried by the lever332.

When the hook 333 is in the position shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings andis about to be reciprocated inwardly toward the anvil, the string S ofthe bag is over the end of the hook and as the hook moves inwardly itengages knot dit in the string which prevents further movement of thestring over the hook. In front of the anvil I provide a guideway orplatform 552 on which is formed a groove H3 (see Figs. 5 and l5) whichgroove converges inwardly toward the anvil and through which the bagstring is carried by the hook to the position over the anvil shown inFig. 5 of the drawings. An arm SI5, preferably in the form of a thinsheet metal member, is secured to the post 363 (see Fig. 3) and extendssubstantially parallel to the edge of the platform. This arm is providedwith a notch 416 arranged adjacent the end of the opening 366 (see Figs.6 and 16) As the hook moves from the position shown in Fig. 4 of thedrawings and engages the bag string, the end of the bag is positionedagainst the arm 415 and the string enters the notch 416 (as shown inFig. 16 of the drawings). As the string S is fed to the anvil, the arm415 removes the pull of the hook from the bag and prevents damage to therevenue stamp or label on the bag. As the string is passing through thegroove 414 it passes under a combing device 426 (see Figs. 5, and 16)which is preferably a piece of felt secured to the front of the machineand which combs yout the bag string. After the bag string has beenstitched to the tag as indicated at W in Fig. 21 of the drawings, thebag passes on to the inclined platform 358.

I further provide a guide or plate 416 which is arranged over theplatform (see Fig. 3) and spaced from it a distance equal to thethickness of a bag. This plate has a depending flange 412 which engagesthe bags and prevents them from buckling as they are pushed along theplatform by the pushing device. Above the flange the plate is providedwith an inwardly extending porti-on 414 and a vertical portion 416 whichis bolted to the post 363.

I further provide means for stopping the machine upon failure of thedelivery of tags. A casting 436 is arranged on the bed 2 of the ma chine(see Figs. 1 and 5) at the next position of the spider |34 after itreceives a tag from the fingers 82 and 84. This casting is provided withan opening or depression and an arm 432 extends over the casting and isprovided with an end portion in alignment with the depression. Arm orlever 432 is pivotally mounted on a bracket 434 on the frame of themachine (see Fig. 4) and is provided with an offset rear end 436. Theoffset end of this arm is adapted to contact with a cam 438 mounted onthe shaft 12. The arm is also connected to a rod 440 which extendsthrough a suitable opening in the bed 2 of the machine. A spring 442 isarranged on this rod and engages the bed of the machine to normally movethis rod upwardly. An operating arm 444 is carried by the rod 446beneath the bed of the machine and is adapted to engage a switch 446 ofthe push button type when the arm moves upwardly to operate the switchand stop the machine. The arm or lever 432 is also provided with ahandle 448 (see Figs. 1 and 4) which may be manually actuated to operatethe switch 446.

Drive shaft I2 is provided with a second cam 450 which engages a link452. Link 452 is connected to a lever 454 pivotally mounted in asuitable support on the under side Vof the bed 2 of the machine. Thefree end of lever 454 carries an adjustable screw 456 which extendsthrough a bore in a plate 466 on which the anvil 16 is mounted. The bodyof the anvil 16 is provided with a bore for the reception of a movablemember 458 which forms a part of the anvil. This member causes the wireto be flattened on the tag and eliminates the possibility or projectingends which might cause tangles between the strings of adjacent bags. Aplate 459 is mounted upon this movable member of the anvil 16 in contactwith the end of screw 456. A spring 462 is arranged in a bore in thebody of the casting 566 which carries the anvil. The lower end of thisbore is enlarged to receive the plate 459. Spring 462 engages this plateto retain the member 456 in lowered position except when it is projectedupwardly by the screw 456. A nut 416 may be arranged on the screw 456 asshown;

General operation of the machine In operation cam shaft 28 is drivenfrom main shaft 12 in the manner heretofore described and thereciprocating members 86 and 96 of the tag feeding mechanism andreciprocating members 368 and 316 which reciprocate and oscillate thehook are driven from this shaft by means of cams 32, 34, 36 and 38. Atthe same time a step by step movement is imparted to the spider 134through the Geneva gearing and shaft 46. 1 Bags are delivered to theplatform 356 from the tobacco filling machine (not shown) and as eachbag is delivered to the inlet end of this platform the preceding bagsare pushed forwardly toward the anvil as shown in Fig. 3 of thedrawings. Plate 416 extends over the edge of the platform as shown inFig. 4 and the flange 412 engages the tops of two or more bags as shownin Fig. 3 to retain the bags in a flat position on the platform 356. Asthe bags are fed upwardly toward the horizontal portion of the platform,they pass under the arm 362 which holds each bag during the stitchingperiod. The notch 416 in the arm 415 receives the bag string as thestring is being fed through the groove 414 toward the anvil as shown inFigs. 5 and 6 and the end of the bag positioned against the arm 415prevents injury to the revenue stamp and label on the bag.

When the reciprocating members 86 and 96 move rearwardly the member 96is stopped rst and as the member 86 reaches the rear end of its stroke,linger |48 rides over the cam |66 to open the fingers and permit them tograsp a tag in position C in Fig. 5 of the drawings. Reciprocatingmember 96 then moves further rearwardly to close the fingers 82 and 84and the forward stroke then carries a tag which has previously beenejected to the position C by the member 280 to a position to be graspedby a pair of ngers on one arm of the spider 134. At the position B shownin Fig. 4 of the drawings the forward movement of the member 96 firststops and member 86 moves further forwardly until the arm 156 passesunder the cam 182 to open the fingers 82 and 84.

In the meantime the fingers 216 and 214 of the arm of the spider in thisposition have been opened by the cam 226 and upon closure of thesefingers the tag is grasped and carried by the spider in its step by stepmovement to the anvil.

During the movement of the spider to its next position over the casting436, arm 432 is rocked by cam 438 to raise the end of the arm and permitthe tag to pass under it. As soon as the high point of the cam passesfrom the offset end 436 of the arm or lever 432, spring 442 tends toraise the rear end of this lever and depress its forward end. Thismovement is arrested by a tag in the arm of the spider, but if no taghas been fed. the forward end of lever 432 is free to move downwardlyraising rod 446 andV causing the arm 444 to operate the switch and shutoi the power from the machine.

Assuming that a tag has been properly delivered to the arm of thespider, the spider proceeds through two more positions to deliver thetag to the anvil. The movement of the spider is coordinated with themovement of the stitcher head so that one of the arms will position atag over the anvil prior to each descent of the stitcher head. Thestring S having also been engage the string S (see Fig. 4).

fed to position shown in Fig. of the drawings, the stitcher headdescends and a wire stitch W secures the tag to the string.

Arm 363 holds the bag in place during the stitching operation and arm M5holds the bag string between it and the platform M2 as shown `in Fig. 16of the drawings so that the pull of the hook 336 is not transmittedalong the string beyond this point of engagement and damage to therevenue stamp or label is thus prevented.

The height of the side walls 354 of the platform 350 is such that theknotted portion of the bag string at the mouth of the bag is just aboveit and the bag string hangs over this wall. With the hook in the dottedline position shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings simultaneous forwardreciprocation of the members 368 and Bill moves the hook outwardlytoward the platform 352. After the hook has been moved outwardly themember 358 is stopped. Member 310 travels a further distance tooscillate the hook in a clockwise direction on its pivot 404. This movesthe hook across the front of the machine causing it to The tworeciprocating members 368 and 310 then move rearwardly, causing the hookto move inwardly toward the anvil to the full line position shown inFig. 5. During this movement the string is over the hook and slides overit for a distance until the knot MU in the groove Gld prevents furtherrelative movement of the string and the hook and the string is thencarried inwardly. The stitcher head then descends and the hook is thenmoved out of the loo-p in the string from the full line position shownin Fig. 5 of the drawings to the dotted line position by rearwardmovement of the reciprocating member 370 while the reciprocating member368 is stationary which again causes the hook to swing on its pivot 454in the opposite direction from its previous oscillation. The grippingngers of the spider are held in closed position from a time just afterthe reception of the tag until after the tag has been stitched to thebag string at the position A. Between the position A and the followingposition the gripping fingers are opened by the oscillation of cam 226to release the tag which has been stitched to the string. The bag isfurther propelled across the horizontal portion 356 of the platform tothe inclined platform 358 (see Fig. 5) In case of a failure of thestitching operation, the loose tag drops on to a platform 35'! whichconveys it to any suitable receptacle and the bag to which a tag has notbeen stitched will later be removed from the stitched bags by aninspector.

The operation of the member 280 to partially project a tag to theposition C in Fig. 5 of the drawings will be apparent from the previousdescription. Cam 450 oscillating the link 452 and the lever 454 movesthe movable member 458 of the anvil upwardly into operative position ateach stroke of the stitcher head to produce a fiat stitch with noprojecting wire ends and thus prevent subsequent entangling of thestrings and tags on adjacent bags.

I claim:

1. In combination with a wire stitcher, means for stitching a tag to oneof the strings of a bag of the string closure type, said meanscomprising a platform over which the bags are propelled to a pointadjacent the anvil of the stitcher, means for delivering tags to theanvil of the stitcher, an oscillating and reciprocating hook to guideone of the bag strings over the anvil, a cam shaft,

and cams mounted on the cam shaft to actuate the tag feeding means andthe hook from the cam shaft.

2. In combination with a wire stitcher, means for stitching a tag to oneof the strings of a bag of the string closure type, said meanscomprising a channel shaped platform extending in front of the anvil inclose proximity thereto over which the bags are propelled to a positionadjacent the anvil, means for guiding one of the strings of the bag onthe platform over the anvil, and means for feeding a tag to the anvil tobe stitched to the bag string.

3. In combination with a wire stitcher, means for stitching a tag to oneof the strings of a bag of the string closure type, said meanscomprising a channel shaped platform extending in front of the anvilover which the bags are propelled to a position adjacent the anvil,means for guiding one of the strings of the bag on the platform over theanvil, means for feeding a tag to the anvil to be stitched to the bagstring, a cam shaft, and cams mounted on the shaft to drive the tagfeeding means and the string guiding means.

4. In combination with a wire stitcher, means for stitching a tag to oneof the strings of a bag of the string closure type, said meanscomprising a platform over which the bags are propelled to a positionadjacent the anvil, means for holding the bag in place on the platformduring the stitching operation, said means comprising an arm spaced fromthe platform, and a second arm arranged adjacent the side of theplatform and engaging the bag string.

5. In combination with a wire stitcher, means for stitching a tag to oneof the strings of a bag of the string closure type, said meanscomprising a platform having side walls extending in front of the anvilin close proximity thereto over which the bags are propelled to aposition adjacent the anvil, the wall of the side of the platformadjacent the anvil being cut away, and means for feeding the string of abag over the anvil wlnle the bag is on the platform.

6. In combination with a Wire stitcher, means for stitching a tag to oneof the strings of a bag of the string closure type, said meanscomprising a platform over which the bags are propelled to a positionadjacent the anvil of the stitching machine, a tube to receive tags instacked relation, means for feeding single tags from the tube to theanvil, said means comprising a pair of reciprocating members, one ofwhich is provided with tag engaging fingers to receive a tag from thetube, a spider having a step by step movement coordinated with thestitcher head and having tag engaging fingers on each of its armsadapted to receive tags from the tag engaging fingers cf thereciprocating member, a hook to guide the bag string over the anvil, apair of reciprocating members to reciprocate and oscillate the hook, acam shaft, and cams mounted on the shaft and driving said reciprocatingmembers.

7 In combination with a wire stitcher, means for stitching a tag to oneof the strings of a bag of the string closure type, said meanscomprising a platform over which the bags are propelled to a positionadjacent the anvil of the stitching machine, a tube to receive the tagsin stacked relation, means for feeding single tags from the tube to theanvil, said means comprising a pair of reciprocating members, tagengaging fingers carried by one of the reciprocating members, a hook toguide the bag string over the anvil, a pair of reciprocating members toreciproca'te and oscillate' the hook, a cam shaft, and cams on saidshaft to drive said reciprocating members.

8. In combination With a wire stitcher, means for stitching a tag to oneof the strings of a bag of the string closure type, said meanscomprising a platform over Which the bags are propelled to a positionadjacent the anvil of the stitching machine, a tube to receive the tagsin stacked relation, means for feeding single tags from the tube to theanvil, said means comprising a pair of reciprocating members, tagengaging fingers carried by one of the4 reciprocating members, means forguiding the bag string over the anvil, a cam shaft, and cams on theshaft to actuate the string guiding means.

9. In combination with a Wire stitcher, means for stitching a tag toIone of the strings of a bag of the string closure type, said meanscomprising a platform over which the bags are propelled to a positionadjacent the anvil of the stitching machine, means for feeding tags tothe anvil of the stitching machine, a hook to guide the bag string overthe anvil, a pair of reciprocating members to oscillate and reciprocatethe hook, a cam shaft, and cams mounted on the shaft to drive thereciprocating members.

l0. In combination with a Wire stitcher, means for stitching a tag toone of the strings of a bag of the string closure type, said meanscomprising a platform extending in front of the anvil in close proximitythereto over which the bags are propelled to a position adjacent theanvil, a tube to receive tags in stacked relation, means for feedingindividual tags from the tube to the anvil, a hook to guide the bagstring over the anvil, and a pair of reciprocating members to oscillateand reciprodate the( hook.

11. In combination with a wire stitcher, means for stitching a tag toone of the strings of a bag of the string closure type, said meanscomprising a platform extending in front of the anvil in close proximitythereto over which the bags are propelled to a position adjacent theanvil, a tube to receive the tags in stacked relation, means for feedingsingle tags from the tube to the anvil, said means :comprising a pair ofreciprocating members, one of which is provided with tag engagingfingers to receive a tag from the tube, a hook to guide the bag stringover the anvil, and a pair of reciprocating members to oscillate andreciprocate the hook.

12. In combination With a Wire sticher, means for stitching a tag to oneof the strings of a bag of the string closure type, said meanscomprising a platform over which the bags are propelled to a positionadjacent the anvil, a tube vto receive tags in stacked relation, meansfor feeding individual tags from the tu-be to the anvil, a hook to guidethe bag string over the anvil, a pair of reciprocating members tooscillate and reciprocate the hook, a cam shaft, and cams carried on theshaft and connected to the reciprocating members to actuate them.

13. In combination With a Wire stitcher, means for stitching a tag toone of the strings of a bag of the string closure type, said meanscomprising a platform over which the bags are propelled to a positionadjacent the anvil, a tube to receive tags in stacked relation, meansfor feeding individual tags from the tube to the anvil, a hook to guidethe bag string over the anvil, a pair of reciprocating members tooscillate and reciprocate the hook, and an arm arranged adjacent theside of the platform at the point Where the string is guided over theanvil and adapted to engage the string as it is fed toward the anvil.

14. In combination with a wire stitcher, means means for stitching a tagto one of the strings of a bag of the string closure type, said meanscomprising a platform extending in front of the anvil in close proximitythereto over which bags are propelled to a position adjacent the anvilof the stitching machine, means for feeding individual tags to the anvilof the stitching machine, a hook to guide one of the bag strings overthe anvil, a pair of reciprocating members associated with. the hook,the hook being pivoted to one of said members, and a connectionbetween'said mem-I bers to oscillate the hook.

l5. In combination with a wire stitcher, means. for stitching a tag toone of the strings of a bag of the string closure type, said meanscomprising a platform over which the bags are propelled to a positionadjacent the anvil of the stitching machine, means for feedingindividual tags to the anvil of the stitching machine, a hook to guideone of the bag strings over the anvil, a pair of reciprocating membersassociated with the hook, the hook being pivoted to one of said members,one of said reciprocating members being provided With an elongated slot,and a pin carried by the hook and received in said slot to oscillate andreciprocate the hook upon reciprocation of said members.

16. In combination with a wire stitcher, means for stitching a tag toone of the strings of a bag of the string closure type, said means-comprising a platform extending in front of the anvil in closeproximity thereto over which the bags are propelled to a positionadjacent the anvil, a tube to receive tags in stacked relation, meansfor feeding individual tags from the tube to the anvil, a hook to guidea bag string over the anvil, and a pair of reciprocating members tooscillate and reciprocate said hook.

17. In combination with a wire stitcher, means for stiching a tag to oneof the strings of a bag of the string closure type, said meansIcomprising a platform over which the bags are propelled to a positionadjacent the anvil, a tube to receive tags in stacked relation, meansfor feeding individual tags from the tube to the anvil, a hook to guidea -bag string over the anvil, a -pair of reciprocating members tooscillate and reciprocate said hook, and an arm adjacent one side of theplatform, said arm being adapted to engage the bag string being guidedover the anvil.

18. In combination with a wire stitcher, means for stitching a tag toone of the strings of a bag of the string closure type, said meanscomprising a platform extending in front of the anvil in close proximitythereto over which the lbags are propelled to a position adjacent theanvil, a tube to receive tags in stacked relation, means for feedingindividual tags from the tube to the anvil, a hook to guide the bagstring over the anvil, and an arm arranged over the platform andengaging the bag when in one position to hold the bag in position on theplatform.

19. In combination with a wire stitcher, means for stitching a tag toone of the strings of a bag of the string closure type, said meanscomprising a platform over which the bags are propelled to a positionadjacent the anvil of the stitching machine, means for feedingindividual tags to the anvil of the stitching machine, a hook to guideone of the bag strings over` the anvil, a pair of reciprocating membersassociated with the hook, the hook being pivoted to one of said members,

a `connection between said members to oscillate the hook, an armarranged over the platform and adapted to engage a bag when in oneposition, and a second arm arranged adjacent the side of the platformand adapted to engage the bag string while the string is being guidedover the anvil.

20. In combination with a Wire stitcher, means for sttiching a tag toone of the strings of a -bag of the string closure type, said meanscomprising a channel shaped platform extending in. front of and in closeproximity to the anvil over which the bags are propelled to a positionadjacent the anvil, means for guiding one of the strings of the `lcag onthe platform over the anvil While the bag is on the platform, means forfeeding a tag to the anvil to be stitched to the bag string, and an armengaging the bag to hold it in position While the bag string is beingguided over the anvil.

21. In combination with a Wire stitcher, means for stitching a tag toone of the strings of a vbag of the string closure type, said meanscomprising a platform extending in front of the anvil in close proximitythereto over which the -bags are propelled to a position adjacent theanvil, means for holding the -bag in place on the platform during thestitching operation, said means comprising an arm arranged over theplatform, and a hook to engage the bag string and guide it over theanvil.

22. In combination with a Wire stitcher, means for stitching a tag toone of the strings of a bag of the string closure type, said meanscomprising a platform extending in front of the anvil in close proximitythereto over -Which the bags are propelled to a position adjacent theanvil, means for holding the bag in place on the platform during thestitching operation, said means comprising an arm arranged over theplatform, a hook to engage the bag string and guide it over the anvil,and a pair of reciprocating members to osoillate and reciprocate thehook.

J OHN THOMAS DALTON.

